Students who are considering a major in theater should realize that the program demands a great commitment of both time and energy. The department offers an opportunity to pursue a rigorous and serious training program within a liberal arts setting. This requires many hours of study and work in the studios, classrooms, shops, theater, and offices. A good deal of the production work done occurs during the evenings and during weekends.
The focus of the program is on training rather than on production alone. The extensive production program enables students to test out ideas and techniques encountered in the studio and classroom.
Courses within the department afford training in the basic demands of the discipline — physical and vocal control, technique in acting and directing, technical and design skills — as well as the opportunity for advanced study, practical production experience, study abroad, and off-campus professional internships. The liberal arts requirements enable the student to better understand the moral, intellectual, and political context in which any artist practices.
All theater majors take certain basic courses in each of the department's areas of study. For the best possible training, students in the upper divisions are urged to concentrate in performance, directing, design and technical theater. Students with specific interests that fall outside these concentrations such as stage management, playwriting, arts administration, or dramaturgy may develop a specialized course of study in consultation with faculty advisors in the department. A complete list of courses is available in the college catalogue. Requirements for a Bachelor of Science major in theater are:

Eighteen additional semester hours in the Theater Department (in consultation with faculty, select courses in other departments may be substituted for some concentrations)

NOTE: Additionally, TH377 SENIOR SEMINAR (1 credit) is strongly recommended for all students who plan to pursue a professional career and/or graduate training in the theatre. In this course we deal with further study (graduate school and studios), finding employment, lving as an artist, budgeting, resume development, etc.

Total: 48-51 credits (dependent upon number of credits for TH250). Many students, depending upon the concentration, take a total of 60 credits in theater.

‡Production Seminar

May be taken for 1, 2, 3 or 4 credits in any given semester

May be taken for a maximum of 6 credits during a student's career

Enrollment is predicated on the fact that a student has been cast in a production or has been assigned a significant staff position

The choice of credits will be determined by both the student and the faculty member leading the seminar class and will reflect the anticipated time commitment as well as the student's course load

Whenever involved in a Seminar Production as an actor or in a significant staff position, consider registering for this course immediately after casting is complete.

*TH235 may be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits. Many Theater student take this course each semester in the first three years at Skidmore. **TH335 may be repeated for a maximum of 4 credits. Many Theater students take this course both semesters of the Senior year.

Areas of Concentration: The following is a recommended sequence of study in each area. With faculty advising other courses might be substitued in each concentration and other concentrations can be design for individual students in playwriting, dramaturgy, theater management, and stage management.

Students interested in Theater Administration shouldseriously consider Arts Administration as a minor.

WRITING REQUIREMENT IN THE MAJOR: The development of excellent written communication skills is essential for all theater artists and all theater students are expected to be able to demonstrate these skills. Students in Theater will fulfill the Department’s writing requirement by (a) completing TH 103 - Introduction To Theater
and (b) completion of the Theater capstone course – TH 376 - Senior Project. Through these requirements students will demonstrate the ability to think critically, organize arguments, and write clearly.

HONORS:Departmental honors are based on a quality point average of 3.50 in all major courses, satisfactory completion of “Senior Project” (TH 376), and high quality work on other departmental projects. A Senior Project Proposal must be filed with the department by the end of the second semester of the Junior year.After departmental evaluation, produced work of exceptional merit in TH376 (Senior Project) based on either a seminar production during the senior year or in another approved Senior Project.

THE THEATER MINOR: A minor in theater is available for students interested in a general education in theater but not necessarily intensive training in a single concentration. 23 semester hours are required: TH103, TH129 or TH130, TH104 or TH140, TH229, TH230, TH235, TH250; one 300-level course in theater beyond the introductory level; and one course in dramatic literature outside the department.

Those students interested in combining a study of theater with art, dance, literature, or music should consult with the Theater Department and their advisors about double-majors or the formulation of a self-determined major.